FC Edmonton end disappointing first half with loss to Cosmos

The setting was perfect for FC Edmonton to concluded a trying Spring Season with a win against the two-time defending North American Soccer League champions.

Sporting new red uniforms to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary and playing in front of a sold out crowd of 4,096 at Clarke Stadium on Saturday, Edmonton could not find a goal in a 1-0 loss to the New York Cosmos.

It’s been the story of the first half of the year for FC Edmonton, who will finish the Spring Season seventh in the eight-team league. They were shut out 11 times in 16 games and now have to either win the Fall Season or climb up into fourth spot in the combined standings to make the playoffs.

FC Edmonton commences the Fall Season on July 30 playing host to the Indy Eleven.

“We created some great chances in the first half and we have to score on them, to be honest with you,” said FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller. “There were so many players who were almost polar opposites of last Friday night (2-1 against North Carolina FC). I’m very disappointed, we’ve picked the biggest crowd that we’ve had here for a long, long time to have our flattest performance. Just too many players not at the races and I’m very disappointed, because it was an opportunity for us (Saturday).”

In what has been an all-too-familiar script, FC Edmonton squandered a handful of good scoring opportunities, highlighting the need to bring in a productive finisher for the second half of the year. Miller has two weeks to find one during the break between the two seasons.

The Cosmos did most of the running in the first 20 minutes and had the bulk of the early scoring opportunities.

Cosmos midfielder Eric Calvillo fired a shot just wide from just outside the penalty area 15 minutes in. Javi Marquez missed from in tight a few minutes later and dangerous low ball played across the face of the net came within inches of being turned in.

Edmonton created their best chances later in the half off a pair of free kicks whipped into the penalty are by midfielder Ben Fisk. The first found the head of defender Netan Sansara, but he failed to connect cleanly, while the second was met by midfielder Sabri Khattab at the far post and lofted back across the net, forcing an excellent save out of Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, who tipped the ball over the crossbar.

“I can’t fault the players for effort, but it’s the quality that was lacking here,” Miller said. “But the Cosmos, they did their homework, they didn’t allow us to play, the closed everything down, but having said that, we have to be better. We have to work in those tight areas and didn’t show the quality that we needed.”

Just before the end of the half, FC Edmonton striker Tomi Ameobi should have put the home side in front, chasing down a bouncing ball played back to Maurer by a defender. Ameobi got to the ball first and lofted it over the goalkeeper, but it rolled wide.

The Cosmos were once again the better team to start the second half and would have taken the lead five minutes in had it not been for a great save from goalkeeper Tyson Farago on Calvillo. Farago dove to his left to stop a shot from in tight on Calvillo, who had split the FC Edmonton defence.

A few minutes later Farago made another good diving stop, turning away midfielder Juan Guerra on a tight-angled shot at the near post.

Edmonton’s first good opportunity of the half came in the 70th minute on a counterattack after Fisk lofted a ball over a defender to Sainey Nyassi to the right of the penalty area. Nyassi cut inside and fired a left footed shot that whistled just wide.

The Cosmos scored in the 79th minute after a low cross from the wing was eventually scrambled in by Calvillo. There was some confusion after the goal as the assistant referee on the far side raised his flag for an apparent offside, but after consultation with the center referee, the goal stood.

“We let a runner go from the middle of the park and we’ve said all week long to stay with the runners,” Miller said. “I couldn’t have stressed anything more and we allowed what was basically a tap-in for them.”

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